HPFV funding shifts sideways

24 February 2010

BY BILL MELDRUM

VICROADS has confirmed $5 million earmarked to upgrade the Princes and Henty highways in preparation for 77.5 tonne high productivity freight vehicles (HPFVs) is also being spent on other road projects in the region.

A VicRoads spokesperson said on Monday the $5 million was never meant exclusively to be spent on upgrades on the designated HPFV routes – the Princes and Henty highways between Portland and Hamilton and the Princes Hwy from the South Australian border to Heywood – but was also for other projects listed in the Green Triangle Freight Action Plan.

It follows a media release issued by Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas last week which said the $5 million of works to be delivered by contractors Midwest Civil included:

• Culvert replacements on the Princes and Henty highways;

• Surry River bridge strengthening, Princes Hwy at Heathmere;

• Rileys Creek bridge strengthening on the Henty Hwy south of Cavendish; and

• Stokes River bridge strengthening on the Casterton-Portland Rd at Digby.

Mr Pallas said the works on the Surry River bridge “were part of the $5 million road upgrade package to prepare for the world leading trial of 77.5 tonne high productivity freight vehicles” before going on to list the $5 million of works to be delivered by Midwest Civil and naming the four projects listed above.

A spokesperson for the minister appeared to backtrack on details contained within the media release, saying yesterday the $5 million was for projects listed in the freight action plan, of which the HPFV trial was a part.

The upgrades on the Princes and Henty highways in preparation foe the HPFV trial include bridge and culvert strengthening, along with shoulder improvements.

VicRoads said there was no intention to expand the HPFV trial at a later stage to include the Casterton-Portland Rd.

Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine has jumped on the confusion and apparent contradictions between the Minister’s statement and VicRoads.

“Minister Pallas has to come clean and explain to the people of the south-west exactly what is happening,” he said.

“His statement last week is clear … he refers to the $5 million road upgrade package as specifically to prepare for the world leading trial of the 77.5 tonne HPFVs, or monster trucks.

“He then lists projects part of that package and names two projects, one south of Cavendish, the other at Digby, as part of that package.”

Dr Napthine reaffirmed his previous sentiments that a lot more work needed to be done on the highways before any HPFVs should be allowed to use them.

Glenelg Shire mayor Gilbert Wilson said that while he had heard of the bridgework south of Cavendish, the bridge strengthening at Digby was new to him.

“It doesn’t surprise me though, because the freight action plan will be like a moving meal, things will change in response to new and changing developments,” he said.